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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced May 2013
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PM1
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2013
  • Refreshed by Sony a3500
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the A3000 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and A3000 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was introduced 3 months prior to the A3000 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-PM2 scores versus the A3000 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony A3000

 E-PM2 A3000 
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Olympus E-PM2

 A3000 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony A3000

 E-PM2 A3000 
LaunchedMay 2013August 2013Similar age
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 features outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Sony A3000 has specifications of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PM2 and the A3000.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and A3000 is 89 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The visual underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and A3000.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A3000 will give more detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures far more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography information
Sony A3000 Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
77
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Sony A3000
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
60
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (470 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Sony A3000
66
provides focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
better than average battery pack (470 per charge)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (411g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Sony A3000 Landscape photography advice
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
missing Timelapse function
70
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A3000 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone support
26
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
heavier than competition (411 grams)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony A3000
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Alpha A3000
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Alpha A3000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-05-21 2013-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lb) 411g (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 78
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.8
DXO Low light score 932 1068
Other
Battery life 360 images 470 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $448 $398